With the new index that came into effect on January 1, the Atmo network, responsible for monitoring air quality in France, now takes into account fine particles PM2.5, the most dangerous to health.
-1610023855.jpg "What changes with the new air quality index in France?")
- Since January 1, the Atmo network has taken PM2.5 fine particles into account in its daily calculation of air quality.
- PM2.5 fine particles are fine enough to enter the bloodstream, enter the pulmonary alveoli and the brain.
Bad days to hope to bring about better ones. This is how the new air quality index put in place at the 1er January 2021. The Atmo network, responsible for daily monitoring of air quality in France, has changed the criteria of its barometer to incorporate new data. Now, it also takes into account fine particles of less than 2.5 micrometers, which are the most dangerous to health.
A much stricter index
Previously, Atmo’s predicted air quality calculation was based on four pollutants in the air: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and PM fine particles.10, i.e. those whose diameter is less than 10 micrometers. Thanks to this new addition, the Atmo network hopes to have a more precise indication of the air we breathe.
The direct consequence of this addition goes hand in hand with the new reading grid. Thus, the new barometer will no longer have ten air quality levels but six. This compression of the scale will lead to a review of certain situations, where the air quality was judged to be good before, but which now needs to be improved. By artificially lowering the indices, new policies to improve air quality will have to be put in place to stay in the nails.
????New ATMO index of the #airquality ????
❔What does it correspond to?
❔What’s new?
❔Why does it change?
Find the answers below ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/nnQTac7gnE— Atmo France (@ATMOFRANCE) January 4, 2021
A pollutant extremely dangerous to health
PM fine particles2.5 are the smallest air pollutants known to us. They have an extremely harmful effect since their tiny size allows them to enter deep into the body, and to lodge in our blood system, in our brain and in our pulmonary alveoli. These particles are most often generated by automobile traffic, but also by heating, in particular that carried out with wood. Chronic exposure to these particles can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as cancers.
In its recommendations, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates not to exceed 25 µg/m3 with regard to PM fine particles2.5. However, in France, there is still no regulatory threshold for PM2.5. As a result, even with poor air quality due to fine PM particles2.5there will be no pollution peaks or traffic restrictions put in place by the prefectures. According to data from Public Health France dated 2019chronic exposure to fine particles PM2.5 would be responsible for 48,000 premature deaths each year.
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